1
00:00:02,290 --> 00:00:03,940
New NASA satellite images 

2
00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,020
provide a dramatic view from space

3
00:00:06,040 --> 00:00:07,970
of Brazil’s ongoing drought.

4
00:00:07,990 --> 00:00:08,810


5
00:00:08,830 --> 00:00:12,000
Scientists have observed changes to Brazil’s water levels 

6
00:00:12,020 --> 00:00:16,270
using NASA’s GRACE satellites since their launch in 2002.

7
00:00:16,290 --> 00:00:16,910


8
00:00:16,930 --> 00:00:19,970
This data visualization created from satellite measurements 

9
00:00:19,990 --> 00:00:23,440
shows how Brazil’s water levels have varied over time. 

10
00:00:23,460 --> 00:00:27,980
Red and orange are areas with water losses; blues are gains.

11
00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:28,350


12
00:00:28,370 --> 00:00:30,710
Current losses are centered in eastern Brazil, 

13
00:00:30,730 --> 00:00:35,420
home to two of the country’s largest cities: Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. 

14
00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:36,480


15
00:00:36,500 --> 00:00:41,180
Eastern Brazil has been on this recent roller coaster of dry and wet periods.

16
00:00:41,200 --> 00:00:45,070
GRACE satellite data shows a dry period in the early 2000s, 

17
00:00:45,090 --> 00:00:46,910
followed by a wet period, 

18
00:00:46,930 --> 00:00:50,720
and then another dry period that has led to the current drought.

19
00:00:50,740 --> 00:00:51,370


20
00:00:51,390 --> 00:00:52,350
Among other factors,

21
00:00:52,370 --> 00:00:56,770
lack of rainfall has contributed to the dry conditions in eastern Brazil. 

22
00:00:56,790 --> 00:01:01,110
Since 2012, eastern Brazil has experienced water losses 

23
00:01:01,130 --> 00:01:04,120
averaging 28 trillion gallons per year. 

24
00:01:04,140 --> 00:01:07,310
The prolonged drought has not only lead to these losses, 

25
00:01:07,330 --> 00:01:11,640
but it has disrupted many of the country’s electricity and water resources.

26
00:01:11,660 --> 00:01:11,910


27
00:01:11,930 --> 00:01:14,370
Brazil has an extensive network of rivers 

28
00:01:14,390 --> 00:01:16,350
that feed into reservoirs and dams, 

29
00:01:16,370 --> 00:01:18,970
which generate more than 75% 

30
00:01:18,990 --> 00:01:21,340
of the country’s electrical power supply.

31
00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:22,040


32
00:01:22,060 --> 00:01:23,880
A number of Brazil’s reservoirs have reached 

33
00:01:23,900 --> 00:01:27,180
their lowest water levels since 2005,

34
00:01:27,200 --> 00:01:31,900
including Itaipu, one of the world’s largest hydroelectric power stations.

35
00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,970
Using satellites, we’ll continue to monitor the region 

36
00:01:34,990 --> 00:01:38,090
and future changes to Brazil’s water resources.

37
00:01:38,110 --> 00:01:40,881